Best Campgrounds near Swannanoa, NC

The higher number loop across the street is better for a more quiet experience. Still a very short walk over to the river or the showers. Showers are free for campers and average cleanliness for a campground.

The check-in office is in a weird, poorly signed place that we actually found accidentally when walking to the swimming hole in the river. It’s behind the bathroom and shower building.

Found a water snake with fishing hook stuck in its abdomen and pulling out the muscle as it was stuck in sticks and a toy boat in the river. Tried to free it but it got away with the hook still in it. Be responsible, fishermen.

On our second night, the host was blaring music in their camper that we could hear several sites away. I found that to be extremely strange.

The area seems to be very slowly recovering from the hurricane. It’s a bit sobering. I feel for these people.

We couldn’t hike the trail we were hoping for due to hurricane damage, so we drove to Grandfather Mountain SP and did a really fun hike there (to Calloway Peak). We stopped at Cellucci’s Italian Restaurant in Pineola and the food and service were amazing.

To be clear, there is only one site that you can drive to. (Site 14) When it says the sites are “walk-in”, it does not mean you can drive near your site and walk over into it. It means you have to park in a parking lot and haul your stuff up to 200 or 300 yards away along a trail over bridge. That being said, it is a lovely little campground. Very pretty right along the creek. Also hiking trails in the area. Be cautious though we had two local people in the area talk to us about people stealing things there and how there used to be a real homeless problem where a church about 30 miles away started dropping off homeless people they were tired of dealing with… typical 🙄. We did not see anything too shady during our visit, however. Just be cautious. The camp host was very nice and helpful. The bathhouse had one shower per side and on a scale of 1 to 10 for cleanliness, I would give it a 6.

Decent spot if you're passing through but staying long isn't bad but not the best. Depending upon what time of year there is a lot of rain, lots of bears (I had my tent ripped open by a bear at least once/ possibly twice or vandals) and there is absolutely no service. Wash creek is accessible at most campsites but not all. Lots of morning mountain bikers and late night drivers so privacy is limited. Dispersed camping is more limited on the Brevard side of the Pisgah forest but I recommend checking that out first if it's not a hassle, if you can't find a spot it's a cool area to see regardless, wash creek is more like a park

This place is gorgeous.  All the sites are arranged for phenomenal views of the surrounding mountains.  I love the cuts in the tree lines so you can have a vista view from your picnic table.  

The showers were hot.  The toilets were clean.  The water was pristine and easily accessed.  

I sleep off the ground, so a lot of campgrounds are understandably not equipped for a couple of easily accessed trees to hold up a hammock.  After calling and asking for a good site that would fit, I arrived to find that not only the site I was given (#16) was perfect, but many other tent sites looked easily accommodating for hammocks as well.  

The sunset alone was more than worth it.  I didn't see any elk, but did fall asleep listening to some owls call to each other, and caught sight of three young bears crossing the road as I left camp.  

The only real question left is "When can I go back?"  The visit was simply too short.